ATRI Appoints Four New Members to Board of Directors

The American Transportation Research Institute announced Dec. 19 that four new members will join its board of directors.

ATRI Chair Judy McReynolds appointed Andrew Boyle, Benjamin McLean, Dennis Nash and James Reed to serve on the ATRI board.

McReynolds

The four members hail from various parts of the transportation industry. Boyle serves as co-president of Boyle Transportation, a company based in Billerica, Mass., that specializes in transporting hazardous materials. McLean is CEO of Ruan Transportation Management, a freight and logistics company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Dennis Nash serves as chairman of Kenan Advantage Group, a tank truck transporter located in North Canton, Ohio. Reed is president of USA Truck, which is based in Van Buren, Ark.

“Our board plays a critical role in guiding and shaping the priorities for ATRI,” President Rebecca Brewster said. “We benefit from a very engaged group of board members and are pleased to have these gentlemen join that group.”

Rasmussen

Besides appointing new board members, ATRI appointed Karen Rasmussen chair of the institute’s Research Advisory Committee. Rasmussen, who is CEO of Help Inc., replaces Scott Mugno, who was nominated to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Help is a Phoenix-based nonprofit that focuses on safety in the commercial freight industry.

ATRI is known for its annual list of critical issues for the trucking industry. This year’s list, released Oct. 23, cited the driver shortage as the No. 1 most pressing concern. American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage could reach 50,000 by year’s end, and the shortfall could surpass 174,000 by 2026 if current trends continue.

The federal ELD mandate, which took effect Dec. 18, dropped to No. 2 after topping the list in 2016. Driver hours-of-service rules appeared at No. 3, and the shortage of available truck parking ranked No. 4.

ATRI received 1,557 responses when compiling the survey. According to the institute, 50.4% of the respondents were motor carriers, 35.7% were commercial drivers and 13.9% were other industry stakeholders.